• Required reading for all forum users!!!

    Welcome!
    Register to access the full functionality of the GSResources forum. Until you register and activate your account you will not have full forum access, nor will you be able to post or reply to messages.

    A note to new registrants...
    All new forum registrations must be activated via email before you have full access to the forum.

    A Special Note about Email accounts!
    DO NOT SIGN UP USING hotmail, outlook, gmx, sbcglobal, att, bellsouth or email.com. They delete our forum signup emails.

    A note to old forum members...
    I receive numerous requests from people who can no longer log in because their accounts were deleted. As mentioned in the forum FAQ, user accounts are deleted if you haven't logged in for the past 6 months. If you can't log in, then create a new forum account. If you don't get an error message, then check your email account for an activation message. If you get a message stating that the email address is already in use, then your account still exists so follow the instructions in the forum FAQ for resetting your password.

    Have you forgotten your password or have a new email address? Then read the forum FAQ for details on how to reset it.

    Any email requests for "can't log in anymore" problems or "lost my password" problems will be deleted. Read the forum FAQ and follow the instructions there - that's what we have one for...

  • Returning Visitors

    If you are a returning visitor who never received your confirmation email, then odds are your email provider is blockinig emails from our server. The only thing that can be done to get around this is you will have to try creating another forum account using an email address from another domain.

    If you are a returning visitor to the forum and can't log in using your old forum name and password but used to be able to then chances are your account is deleted. Purges of the databases are done regularly. You will have to create a new forum account and you should be all set.

$5 clutch fibers/plates

  • Thread starter Thread starter UncleMike
  • Start date Start date
I will jump in AFA valve cover gaskets. I had 2 (two) aftermarket gaskets fail on me on the road. The first was during a Fennimore rally and left me putting form-a-gasket on my bike at 6 am. The second was its replacement and I started oiling the road just in front of bwringer's office. In both cases the gasket I removed was brittle and broke at the slightest touch. I am now running a Suzuki-branded gasket and have had no further problems.

I have a consumer products background, and our company would regularly buy products with our brand name on them. We called them sourced products. The main difference was that the sourced products had to pass our specifications, as others have stated. While I am certain my Suzuki-branded gaskets are sourced, I am also certain they were required to pass certain tests or specs. I know for a fact they have outlasted the aftermarket gaskets I used previously.

I also have an aftermarket stator and a Honda R/R, so I am not tied to the Suzuki brand. Rather, I try to do my homework and get the best possible part each time.
 
Some very good information is coming out regarding specific brands and other considerations which is part of what I hoped when posting. Again, it was not my intent to argue but rather to address the myth that what comes in OEM parts boxes is necessarily better. To re-state, the fact that it is in an OEM box does not guarantee superior quality.

The mention of originally fitted bearings fits my experience as the fitted Japanese bearings such as NTN are top quality but replacements are not necessarily of this level. One can often simply read the maker's name on the part shipped in OEM boxes. Ditto seals.

I agree that the very inexpensive gasket and seal kits often do not contain the desired quality of product but the aftermarket seals produced by National Rubber, Chicago Rawhide and other names are top drawer and can often be obtained through local bearing supply houses and automotive jobbers at lower cost than from the dealer.

Another area is that of fasteners because there are so many higher quality choices as well as much crap out there. Like other parts one needs to use judgement as the fact that something is advertised as, or will physically locate into the required position, does not indicate that it is suitable.

Good thread but think we've beaten that subject sufficiently.;) Hopefully others will post specfic product information with regards brands proven to be quality or lacking there of....can't leave that as my Grade 3 teacher would rap my knuckles for dangling a participle. "for which quality is lacking."

What now? What's your favorite myth? I think that I'll start a thread as exploring that subject should be very useful to some members.:)
 
Last edited:
One factor missing from the debate, and thats dolleros, "bang for buck" or "cost effectiveness" if you like.

Americans, all 312,812,904 of them, dont know how good the've got it.

Because theres so many of them theres a market size that gives buying power, so they can go to any dealer and expect to pay a reasonable price, and get good service to boot. (if they dont then for sure theres options)

Unlike some of us where the same part can cost 3 or many more times as much. Sure we can shop on line but unless you enjoy waiting 3 months or more, any saving is seriously erroded by air freight. What are you going to do when it arrives if its somehow wrong? (no matter whose fault.)

So consider that if I can buy locally a aftermarket part that is (almost)as good as OEM lasts at least 2/3 as long, but costs only 1/6 as much its a done deal.

Specfic example clutch plates, $30 each at local dealer, not in stock, expect to wait 2-3 days, oh and dont forget to nag them a few times so they actually bother order it...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top